Pop Culture Galore!

I leave my thoughts on all facets of Pop Culture. (Usually movies, shows, Video Games, and albums.)

[legion1227]

I critique Pop Culture!

Welcome to my pop culture reviews and news page. I will be airing out my thoughts on various TV shows, movies, albums, and video games that I watch, play and listen to this year. Plenty of it will be timely stuff that came out this past year, but there will be a lot of content I talk about that was released years beforehand. I'll also be updating news on the aforementioned pop culture aspects whenever I can.

(For the record, here's how my ranking system works. )

0/5= nothing redeemable about album, show, etc.

0.5/5= Garbage

1/5= Terrible

1.5/5= Awful

2/5= Bad/Disappointing

2.5/5= Fine

3/5= okay

3.5/5= Good

4/5= Great

4.5/5= Amazing

5/5= Perfect

[legion1227]

Breaking Bad Observation

Breaking Bad's been talked about to death, so I'll make this quick.

Upon rewatching season 1 episode 5, "Gray Matter," I noticed a cool parallel that perhaps someone else has talked about, but if not, I still find it worth noting. As we know, as the seasons progress, Walt becomes more ambitious and ruthless, while Jesse encounters more trauma and hardens by the series' end. But in this one episode, they both exhibit a prideful nature that ultimately shows in the end how intertwined their paths were always to be. Walt has the opportunity to quit his job and work with Gretchen and Elliot's company, guaranteeing some decent money and coverage for his cancer treatment, yet he refuses this offer due to his pride. In the same episode, Jesse tries cooking a new batch of meth with Badger, pushing out an acceptable product. Probably supplying a unit that would be fine for his clientele, but his pride has him discard perfectly capable products, as he believes he can do better, striving to achieve the same purity he achieved with Mr. White.

It's pretty cool that they both had respective opportunities for their lives to work out differently, but in the end, they don't… and find each other back in their lives yet again.

[legion1227]

My Hero Academia is my bread and butter.

Possible hot take: I think this series was consistently pretty good.

About a month ago, My Hero Academia aired the final episode of its run, showing the students all grown up and where they are as young adults. If you’re somehow unaware of the anime phenomenon, My Hero Academia spent eight seasons following freshman superhero students looking to become official heroes at a school for those with superpowers. Starting in 2016, I’ve grown up alongside these kids over the years, having begun the show as a freshman in high school myself when the program started and now finishing as a graduate student. The kids have all grown up. Finally.

I was more into the show during its first few seasons. Deku, as a main character, someone born without a power or quirk, as they call it in their universe, always endeared me through his perseverance, genuine determination, and dedication. The huge supporting cast was always mostly really likable. Teachers and staff, such as Aizawa, Present Mic, and, of course, All-Might, harbored some good designs and fun personalities. Meanwhile, the students also shone with personality and mostly carried such good vibes that I appreciated all of them getting time and moments to shine or stand out throughout the eight seasons, even though I struggled to keep track of them or some of their names at times. I’ll always remember…the kid who can use tape or the one who is friendly with animals, seriously! Their names will escape me until the end of time, but I will always honestly remember the kids and appreciate them. I enjoy anime, spending time establishing a huge student body, and making sure every student has a unique design and a quality that makes them stand out. Like Assassination Classroom.

Over the last few years, I’ve always made sure to allot some time to see the latest occurrence in the show, even if I wasn’t as hyperfixated as I was as a teen. For the majority of the show and even through its final season, I still believe the animation and art style are a treat. The fight sequences are solid, the backstories are compelling, and it manages to succeed in its big emotional moments. In its final episode? Moments like every student pitching together to give Deku a suit that best mimics superpowers after he loses his quirks again? I’m a mark for togetherness and friendship amongst large friend groups. Again, like Assassination Classroom. Also, Deku and his love interest Uraraka are finally getting together after years of teasing. I guess I’m a mark for love, too. Teenage me was shipping the hell out of those two.

I mean, besides wishing they spent less time on All-4-One and more time on Shigaraki in the final fight, I think this last season sticks the landing pretty well. As I’m older now, my one gripe that sticks with me more is how I’m supposed to believe all the bullshit that happens with the kids, fighting for their lives for eight seasons, is supposed to take course over a single year. All of that happening to a bunch of freshmen is a little insane. I would’ve liked more if we could follow the kids throughout their school careers, and see some of the events, fights, and character development take place throughout the years. To see how different characters like Deku, Bakugou, or Todoroki change from day 1 to the final day of school over the seasons would’ve gripped me a bit more.

Regardless, I don’t think this show ever fell off too badly for me, and I’m really glad they stuck the ending with these kids. 4/5. Need more fun superhero anime, maybe with some young adults going forward.

[legion1227]

Thoughts on Maul: Shadow-Lord

Happy Pride! Let’s talk Star Wars!

(Spoilers for Maul: Shadow-Lord below)

Maul: Shadow-Lord is something I’ve been thinking about a lot the past few weeks, though I’ve been struggling to formulate the proper thoughts. In essence, though, it’s peak.

Many Star Wars live-action shows have been hit or miss over the years. The Mandalorian was loved in the beginning, but the latest season? Not so much. Ditto for the Book of Boba Fett, though I’m one of the few who actually enjoyed it despite its flaws. Besides maybe Andor, most of these other shows fall into a mixed category. However, most of these animated shows are batting 100 for the moment. The Bad Batch was fun; your Tales of the Jedi/Sith/Empire are all adding fun bits of lore to adored characters, and the latest one, following everyone’s favorite baddie from The Phantom Menace, is another great show I’ve had the privilege to watch this year. I wish I had seen more chatter online about it, though, during its airing. Maul had the unfortunate placement of airing around the same time as Invincible season 4 was airing episodes. And season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again. AND the final season of The Boys. Really, the age of the superhero, huh?

If you’re unaware, Maul: Shadow-Lord aired for 10 episodes and followed Maul’s attempts at running from the Empire’s wrath, obtaining revenge against the Emperor, and establishing his criminal organization. Ultimately, it ends with him scrambling away to fight another day as he loses pretty much everyone in his crew. But he obtains a potential apprentice of his own to mold to his liking.

Maul: Shadow-Lord divides its attention between Maul’s escapades, Jedi survivors Devon and Daki looking to get by, and Captain Lawson, who’s working his job earnestly as a detective while also trying to take care of his teenage son Rylee. Lawson spends time attempting to track down Maul until eventually he crosses paths with the Jedi. Then the group eventually finds themselves working with Maul and his crew as the Empire breathes down their necks.

The plot’s revolving around the Jedi, Lawson, and Rylee are really solid and tied together neatly enough. Lawson’s a decent character, but is carried for me personally by a stirring performance by Wagner Moura. Second-best VA in the show, right behind the phenomenal Sam Witwer as Maul. You really feel for Lawson and his son as they are good people trying to do the right thing, similar to Daki and his padawan, Devon. But as compelling as they are, almost every time the plot was focused on either of these groups, my mind kept circling back to one thought: “What’s Maul up to right now?”

Because everything revolving around Maul is the best part of this first season.

He has bad intentions, but I love that he shares some care for his crew as he watches some of them die, like his spybot. I love the episode that revolves around his trauma after his defeat by Kenobi in Phantom Menace and the suffering and losses endured if you watched Star Wars: The Clone Wars (RIP his brother, Savage Opress). Again, I have to glaze Sam Witwer’s performance! Maul’s calm, cold moments and his fiery, explosive temper at times, Witwer is the de facto voice for this character. He just gets it. And I haven’t even spoken about the action! The choreography, the animation—it's smooth, sublime, some of the best fight sequences throughout the entirety of Star Wars!

4/5. I’ve said enough. If you didn’t catch this because you were busy with the also incredible, superhero shows airing, or any other reason for that matter, then I suggest Star Wars and sci-fi fans go check out Maul: Shadow-Lord.

[legion1227]

Go Watch Baki-Dou now. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it Do it. Do-

God, I love over-the-top action anime.

This will be a quickie. Baki the Grappler is a martial arts manga created by Keisuke Itagaki. The manga was originally adapted into an OVA in the 90s before becoming a proper anime series in 2016. It was recommended I check out the series a few years ago by someone near and dear to my heart. On Netflix exists three shows: Baki, Baki Hanma, and the newest show, Baki-Dou: The Immortal Swordsman.

Each show follows the same premise, where some of the strongest men on the planet seek out battle against one another for the thrill of combat. Baki himself, after whom the series is named, has a fair amount of time focused on him, but really, the show is more focused on other characters than the young man. "Baki," the first of the three shows, aired for three seasons before Baki Hanma released two, and this year saw the release of Baki-Dou. All three shows flow together really well, though, and you could group them altogether. One could say that Baki-Dou season 1 is just season 6 under the Baki umbrella. Those first three seasons of the show are really entertaining, but the seasons of Baki Hanma, and this season of Baki-Dou are the seasons that pop me the most.

From the jump, this series has always been larger than life. But the latest seasons have introduced storylines such as Baki going to prison or what if a caveman from the prehistoric era was resurrected and was strong as hell, or what if Baki finally fought his father, which by the time it happens, you've been DYING to see it, and it's as spectacularly nutty as you'd hope.

Baki-Dou repeats itself with the caveman idea, but instead of resurrecting a caveman and bringing him into modern times, they posit the question: what if we did that again, but with a historical legend? And thus, they manage to bring to life the legendary swordsman Musashi Miyamoto. The whole season revolves around his mystique, his aura, and how so many wanna throw down with the man of history. And it's just as awesomely dumb as the rest of the series, and as you'd hope, I love it. I love how the narrator breaks down how these gods amongst men perform a simple maneuver or routine that is impossible in the real world without a doubt, yet he somehow makes it make sense. The animation isn't really the smoothest, and the art style leans a little into the ugly side for my liking, but this is still such a sensationally fun anime to watch. If you've ever seen Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, one of my favorite anime of all time, I'd put it up there with the likes of that in terms of nuttiness. I'm sure others would agree. The characterization of Baki, his father, and all these other large, strapping guys…I hope they make a million more seasons. I hope that in the following seasons, they have an alien come down and he's just as strong as Baki's father, and they throw down as buildings crumble around them.

4/5 for Baki-Dou. Great season. Go watch Baki if you haven't already and are a fan of over-the-top action.

[legion1227]

I'm late but Cyberpunk is awesome.

Alright, Choom. Let's talk about how preem this game is and then delta out of here.

I hate some of the vernacular in Cyberpunk, but I still kinda love this game. Released in December 2020, I'm sure fans and others may remember when the game first dropped six years ago; littered with bugs, glitches, and performance issues, gaining a notoriety for a horrendous launch. So bad that the game was removed from stores for six months to fix it up before returning. Upon its return, the game received way more praise. Now, six years later, the base game is beloved, the DLC Phantom Liberty has received positive reviews, and even its anime Edgerunners is pretty goddamn great too. (I watched the anime before playing this game, but now I feel compelled to rewatch.)

Now, I'm lucky enough, and beyond grateful, to have access to PlayStation Plus' Premium catalogue of games. Every month, they're always adding a bunch of games. I try to dip my toe as much as possible and play various games to expand my palette. The caveat is that I can only access these hundreds of games on the PS4, but not on my PS5. It's never affected my enjoyment of any game I really played beforehand except for right here, right now.

I completed my first-ever playthrough of Cyberpunk 2077 on the PS4, and I understand why it has the fanbase it has. This shit is oozing personality. If you're reading this and somehow unaware, Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world first-person shooter where you create your own character and try to navigate the cesspool that is Night City. Your character, named V, is trying to make a name for themself while running into several kooky, memorable characters, all the while accompanied by a digital engram named Johnny Silverhand, played by the always wonderful Keanu Reeves, who lives in your head and is essentially slowly killing you. So you're going throughout the game, trying not to die, and have a wonderful array of content at your disposal. Side missions revolved around helping out friends and strangers alike, rescuing hostages, neutralizing cyberpsychos, races, and finding graffiti of tarot cards. There's so much to do in the game, and I love it. There are multiple different ways to take down enemies, whether stealthily, upgrading your character to be overpowered to hell, and I continue to see videos of other people playing the game, using abilities I didn't even know you could do! This makes the game ripe for replays in the future, which I will absolutely indulge in one day.

In regard to characters, story, or gameplay, the game is pretty phenomenal. Next time I play, I need to see the hype over the story DLC Phantom Liberty. However, there's literally only one gripe I have with the game, and it's a big one: Performance issues.

Honestly, I was under the assumption that the game was 100% fixed with minimal to no issues across the board. Maybe anyone playing on the PS5, PC, or otherwise can attest for me. But on the PS4, it's not even like I ran into the funny, haha, glitches. All I got was the same experience to the extent of: Drive to the location Building hasn't fully loaded in/ Person I'm supposed to talk to hasn't loaded in yet Wait 20-30 seconds before everything loads in Continue mission.

That process repeated a dozen different times throughout the entire playthrough. Almost infuriating when you're really into the story, get to the location, and have to wait for everything to catch up to you. It occurred often enough that it was the only aspect that really hampered my experience with the game. And perhaps I would've liked it if the final mission somehow, someway included a bit more of some of the people/friends you met along the way, like River, for instance. I would've enjoyed some variation of an ending that involved River tagging along with the assault on Arasaka, among others. But again, most of my gripes really come from the performances of it all.

Besides that, I'm glad I see the vision now. I'm glad that I know how good this is with the rest of the other fans. Overall rating: 4/5. Will absolutely replay sometime in the future. But next time, I'll try to aim for the PS5 version with the Phantom Liberty DLC, if anything.

[legion1227]

Red Vs Blue Season 1-2 Update

So last year, I forgot what exactly set this off, but for a short time, Red Vs Blue was trending on Twitter/X. My feed was flooded with clips from the show, fans reminiscing over their favorite funny moments or their favorite action scenes. Several years back, I got into the show on a whim, and two years ago, a film was released to conclude the story that was being told since 2003. While I very much enjoyed the finale and the clips, I decided to rewatch the entirety of the show.

Two seasons in, and I'm reminded that it's carried by the writing. Very smartly written show. Sorta a pioneer for its time, some say it revolutionized the genre of Machinima videos. It's the only reason why I partially care about the Halo games. If you're somehow not aware of what Red vs Blue is, it follows a war between two opposing forces in the middle of an abandoned canyon. Don't be fooled, it's not epic, at least until the later seasons; it's just a comedy. Produced through footage from Halo: Combat Evolved and synchronizing it to pre-recorded dialogue. I used to watch similar series that would utilize the familiar method, but the footage used was from Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3. And at the time, no one could provide voice-acted dialogue so it was just text on a screen while characters stood still. By comparison, Red vs Blue appears like a work of art. But if you look past that, you can find likable characters and a juvenile sense of humor that still tickles you.

[legion1227]

Did anyone listen to the new AFI or Red Jumpsuit Apparatus albums?

For those unaware, on October 3, 2025, the two punk rock bands released their newest albums, 'Silver Bleeds The Black Sun' and 'X's For Eyes,' respectively, on the same day.

Both bands are best remembered for their work in the 2000s. AFI dropped some of their biggest, best hits in the album Sing The Sorrow, while Red Jumpsuit dropped their biggest claim to fame, 'Face Down.' As someone who adores the music from the 2000s, I hold some of these songs dear to my heart. AFI's 'Girl's Not Grey' and 'The Leaving Song Pt 2' were one of many songs I can fondly remember dominating the household as my older brother blasted them frequently in his room. Meanwhile, "Face Down" is something I find replaying consistently while exercising, among many other bangers.

Despite the love for these bands and their songs, I didn't seem to find a lot of chatter on their newest albums upon release or even now. If you haven't heard and are a fan of 2000s punk, you might get a kick out of at least one of their newest albums. AFI's latest project doesn't quite hit the same as their older gems, but Red Jumpsuit Apparatus has a few catchy tunes in their arsenal, even if none of them are quite "Face Down."

[legion1227]

Wonder Man Quickie

As I write this, today is the day that Daredevil: Born Again season 2 drops its first episode. For the next few weeks, this show will dominate online spaces as a topic of conversation. Hopefully, this season is as good as the Netflix Daredevil show was at its peak. But before we focus all our love and attention on the Devil of Hell's Kitchen, I want to show some bits of small love to the previous MCU show that came before it: Wonder Man!

Yesterday, major news outlets reported that Wonder Man will be getting a season 2. So it seems like an appropriate time to give this superhero and its show a few final graces before we move on; For the unaware, Wonder Man follows Hollywood actor Simon Williams, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, trying to get his big Hollywood break while keeping under wraps that he has his own set of superpowers. He eventually forms an unlikely friendship with Trevor Slattery, played by Ben Kingsley, and the two attempt to land roles in a remake of the in-universe superhero film called Wonder Man.

Let's get the highlights and pros out of the way first. I like how different it feels from the numerous Marvel-Disney shows we've gotten over the last few years. All the other ones have heavy emphasis on action or superheroes trying to BE superheroes, while this one is way more character-driven. Comic readers know he's eventually going to be this hero in the Marvel world known as Wonder Man, but it's a bit refreshing to see a show where the character hides and rejects their powers, while also still being interesting. Wonder Man focuses more on the dynamic between Simon and Trevor, as well as name-dropping or showing love to numerous films and shows outside the world. Speaking of Trevor, he's definitely one of the most interesting original characters that the MCU has come up with. From portraying the Mandarin in Iron Man 3 to popping up in Shang-Chi, and now buddying up with Simon Williams, the character of Slattery has come a long way since his first appearance. I'm looking forward to him returning in season 2 and any other potential Marvel projects.

Besides that, Wonder Man makes decent use of its 8 episodes. I hate that most TV shows these days are between 6 and 8 episodes, as not every show utilizes that small window of episodes to their best advantage. I want to spend more time with these characters and this section of the world that they dwell in, and I find that it could be done better if these shows were at least 10 episodes. But for what it is, it's paced fine, though some episodes do tend to drag a little. The fourth episode is the most fascinating of the bunch, "Doorman." Introducing an interesting character and providing a compelling story and reason for why super-powered people are not allowed to be actors, and why Simon hides his. If there was one episode to watch from this season and none else, then I would pick "Doorman," for those who do not know.

However, I would recommend Wonder Man as a casual watch for anyone who did not see it, whether it flew under your radar or you've checked out on Marvel the last few years, or any other reason. Don't expect an action-packed adventure, but rather an entertaining, charming, quaint binge. Binge is a bit ironic, though, because I believe this show should've been weekly rather than dropping all the episodes at once. Regardless, it's still great. 4/5 stars.

[legion1227]

Ranking every TV show I watched in 2025

Note to any who come across this: this is my own personal list so you're free to disagree and this list will also contain shows that I watched in 2025, period. Meaning you're gonna see older shows that did not come out in 2025 but I watched in that year and I've added to the list for fun. Here we go!

46. The Four Seasons.

Very decent sitcom on Netflix. Wish it was longer than 8 episodes; I hate how short shows are these days. 2 eps cover each season of the year. Summer, spring, etc. Not the funniest imo, but the cast is mostly really likable.

45. Bookie (Season 2)

A sitcom on HBO led by comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, who plays a sports bookie. Slightly funnier than The Four Seasons, it also runs on decent vibes. Shouldn't have been cancelled. Lowkey favorite thing about it is these references to a niche-ass anime, D. Gray Man. Really would've liked a 3rd season.

44. Ironheart.

I can recognize that not all MCU shows and movies are made equal. Some are better than others. I believe Ironheart is also merely okay. Should've been longer than 6 episodes and given better marketing. Best things about the show are Dominique Thorne's performance as Riri Williams, and also the 1st, 3rd, and 6th episodes, respectively.

43. Last Samurai Standing

It infuriates me how short this one is. Not every show should be 6 episodes, dammit! Well-choreographed fight scenes, interesting characters, and a compelling premise, but it's so damn short; certain things feel so rushed, and I hate that.

42. WWE Unreal (Season 1)

I like seeing behind-the-scenes for wrestling sometimes. To get a peek behind the curtain and see how they do things is neat. If only WWE weren't so creatively bankrupt on their weekly programming right now, that would be great.

41. Reacher (Season 3)

I love that one of the biggest appeals in the last season was just 'Alan Ritchson is big but now we found someone even BIGGER than him' and it's still fun.

40. The Last of Us (Season 2)

Really faithful to the second game in the sense that it's good and there are multiple aspects to like about it, but it's not as good as what came beforehand. Although in the game's case, the gameplay of Part 2 outdoes Part 1 pretty well. (Unless the Part 1 PS5 game flows differently, idk i didn't play it. ) One thing the second season and the second game share in common, though, is that the lack of Joel Miller is felt.

39. Hazbin Hotel (Season 2)

I feel like the songs this time around were even more catchy than before. Lot more songs I like in the second season over season 1. Vox was also a really entertaining main antagonist for this season and while I have gripes with the show, at least it's not boring. I'm pretty entertained throughout.

38. Love, Death, and Robots (Volume 4)

This animated anthology series always has a few episodes at least that I would recommend everyone go out of their way to see. In this case, if I had to choose, let's say...go watch 'Close Encounters of the Mini Kind' and 'How Zeke Got Religion.'

37. Physical Asia (Season 2)

I don't usually go out of my way for reality shows unless they have Gordon Ramsay or are really intriguing in concept. This reality show pits 48 contestants from eight countries, teaming up to represent their countries and compete against one another in physically demanding challenges. This is one of the few physical contest reality shows I liked, I'll say that much.

36. The White Lotus (Season 3)

I still feel like the first season was the most interesting. But I liked this season more than season 2. Walton Goggins, Parker Posey, Aimee Lou Wood, among others, deliver some kooky characters that get up to some shit in Thailand. Can't wait to see what havoc white people bring in season 4.

35. Red vs Blue (Season 1)

Several months back, there was some discourse on my Twitter/X TL involving this OG internet show. It has led me down a rewatch for the first time in years, especially considering that the series wrapped up somewhat nicely in a film not too long ago. It really had its up and down seasons throughout, but season 1 was not one of the downs in terms of its writing.

34. The Righteous Gemstones (Season 4)

Danny McBride and team delivered on a strong final season. The show remained consistently funny throughout its run, and the crew should be proud.

33. Harley Quinn (Season 5)

I think season 3 of this show was the best. This season wasn't as good, but it still had some charm. I love Harley and Poison Ivy's relationship and how they are with each other. I was also intrigued by their portrayal of Brainiac in this season.

32. The Handmaids' Tale (Season 6)

A great sendoff to one of Hulu's best original shows. Strong performances from start to end, it also acts as a memorable sendoff to the one and only June Osborne.

31. Black Mirror (Season 7).

Every episode this season is worth watching, although I do believe 'Plaything' is the weakest of the bunch. But I do like how it features one of the characters from Bandersnatch.

30. The Sandman (Season 2)

Lots to like on this one. Tom Sturridge thrives as Dream, Jack Gleeson acting in something I haven't seen him in since his Game of Thrones days, the story, the ending, the settings outside of the human realm, it's a shame it all comes to an end this season but it made for a compelling ride.

29. IT: Welcome To Derry

Better than the last season of Stranger Things AND cemented my love for this catty bitch Pennywise.

28. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

The art style took a little getting used to, but after that it didn't take long to become gripped with this interpretation of my favorite webhead.

27. Resident Alien (Season 4)

Alan Tudyk is a gem. S/O to the writers for getting him to have actually funny lines.

26. Kevin Can **** Himself.

Criminally cut short. Should've been at least five seasons. Incredibly original and deserves more recognition.

25. Squid Games (Seasons 2-3)

The ending depresses the hell out of me. But I'm not gonna act like every other episode did not have me hooked or at the edge of my seat.

24. The Bear (Season 4)

This and season 3 have this weird phenomenon where I think they are both great on a technical level, but they still aren't as good as their first two seasons. I hope that season 5 can summon the same feelings I had in its freshman and sophmore seasons.

23. My Hero Academia (Season 7)

One season behind from its final season. Even as of this writing, I haven't yet watched it's final season. But the set-up to its grand finale moved me enough that I was thoroughly enthralled.

22. Dexter: Resurrection

Genuinely, the first great Dexter season since season 4 of the original show. Finally, All-timer cast, better characterization for Harrison, and I still giggle over the Gemini killer twist.

21. Rick and Morty (Season 8)

Some will say that the show fell off a long time ago and while they may be right, I still feel like they have their moments. There's still some kick left in this show and a few episodes from this season, I believe, are pretty damn good examples of that.

20. South Park (Seasons 27-28)

Weird to produce two 5 episode seasons in the same year but I'll group them together. They dunk on Trump and his staff so damn hard throughout these ten episodes, it's enjoyable.

19. Only Murders In The Building (Season 5)

Besides the Knives Out movies, this is the best whodunit murder mystery we have right now. Not many doing it like this show.

18. Arcane (Season 2)

Another instance where on a technical level, it's great. Though I prefer season 1 over 2.

17. Peacemaker (Season 2)

Reverse instance where I prefer season 1 over season 2! But the intro from season is euphoric.

16. Gen V (Season 2)

I'm worried about the Gen V cast going into The Boys season 5. Someone's gonna die and I don't know who.

15. Daredevil: Born Again

Incredible season though I'd put it on par with season 2 of the original show. Hopefully this next season reaches the epic highs of the original show's first and third seasons.

14. Seinfeld (Seasons 7-9)

Took me too long to get through the first 6 seasons throughout 2024. But in the 2025 I got to see why this sitcom has legendary status and cements itself in the the history of television. Even if the finale is ass.

13. Phineas and Ferb (Seasons 3-5)

In anticipation of its latest comeback, I rewatched the show I became fond of as a child in the late 2000s. The newest season picks up where the OG left off like it hasn't skipped a beat. And that's admirable.

12. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Seasons 3-5)

Smartly written. Incredibly witty. Just amazing.

11. One Piece (Egghead Arc)

Watching Luffy move like a demon in Gear 5, Kuma's backstory, the animation!? All of it? Chef's kiss.

10. Dragon Ball Z Kai (Frieza Saga- Buu Saga)

I hadn't actually sat down and watched all the episode of KAI in god knows how long. Seeing as DBZ and DBZ Kai are my favorite animes of all time, I try not to let this bias interfere with my list TOO badly otherwise I may just put it at one. But there's still something there. I love DBZ too much lol.

9. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. (Season 17).

I hope Danny Devito lives forever.

8. Castlevania: Nocturne (Season 2)

There better be another season to this. Or another Castlevania show in general. I need this injected into my veins.

7. Invincible (Season 3)

Say what you want about the animation, but the story, the characters, the drama, the stakes, it's hitting hard on all other fronts.

6. Common Side Effects

Adult Swim had a sleeper hit with them. Have not heard enough talk about this one and that needs to change NOW,

5. Smiling Friends (Season 3)

Well, no reason Common Side Effects wasn't talked about enough. Adult Swim had another bigger hit last year. Damn shame it's ending so prematurely though.

4. Six Feet Under (Seasons 4-5)

It really does have one of the best TV series finales of all time. But you have to watch the entire show to appreciate it. It's worth it.

3. Severance (Seasons 1-2).

If we're talking shows that actually came out in 2025, then season 2 of Severance is my show of the year. One of Apple TV's best shows on the entire goddamn platform.

2. Daredevil

Once again, in excitement of Daredevil's highly anticipated return to our screens, I rewatched the original 3 seasons of the formerly Netflix show and it's still the best superhero show period. Without question.

The Good Place. Fun fact: I got into the show somewhere after season 2 but before 3, I believe. Then I watched all the seasons on NBC as they came out and swiftly forgot about them over the years. One day, last year, I was looking for some comfort and I found it by rewatching this show. It's actually gotten me more into moral philosophy, thinking about spirituality, and has overall become one of my favorite shows ever and I thank The Good Place for providing me that comfort in 2025.

[legion1227]

Ranking every film I watched in 2025 from Worst to Best

For the record, the list is in my personal opinion and will be an overall list of films. So a good majority of the films you see on this list did not come out in 2025 but were either seen by me for the first time ever in 2025 or the first time in a loooong time.

60. Slender (AKA Always Watching: A Marble Hornets Story).

I watched this on Pluto TV, and it was billed as Slender in the title with a picture of Slender Man on the thumbnail at that time. I clicked on it, thinking it was the 2018 Slender Man film, but was duped into something so abysmally droll.

59. The Craft: Legacy

Significantly worse than the original. I mean, my expectations were low, but holy shit.

58. Mufasa: The Lion King.

An unnecessary sequel to an unnecessary film. I hope they do not make another.

57. You're Cordially Invited.

Films with Will Ferrell don't really hit the same as they used to, I fear.

56. Lilo and Stitch (2025)

Not going to watch this again when the original's around.

55. Pocahontas 2.

Still a bad movie but fun to watch and riff on with friends.

54. Playdate.

Painfully unfunny. But I do like seeing Alan Ritchson get work.

53. Him.

Interesting premise, but it's ultimately squandered.

52. Vicious

Dakota Fanning is decent in this, but it's still forgettable.

51. Death of a Unicorn

Definitely has its moments. Unicorn horror movie sounds crazy.

50. Crazy Samurai Musashi.

Just...fascinated that it exists at all. Look it up if you don't know it.

49. Moana 2.

If they make a 3rd movie, they'd better bring back Lin-Manuel Miranda for the music. Please, God.

48. Sinister.

It's said to be the scariest movie ever on a scientific level. Viewers' heart rates were higher while watching this movie than other horror films. It's alright though...

47. The Italian Job

Solid cast, but that's not enough to bring it higher.

46. Salem's Lot.

Not sure how this compares to the book. Stephen King is one wild guy.

45. The Gorge.

A fine premise, but it's ultimately okay. Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy put in some decent performances in there.

44. 28 Weeks Later

In anticipation of 28 Years Later, I watched the first two films in this series. 28 weeks is also ultimately okay, but that opening scene is so damn good.

43. Happy Gilmore 2

Not as good as the first, but it did make me laugh more than I anticipated.

42. Good Fortune.

Doesn't move me much as a comedy, but I really found the characters likable. Seth Rogen, Aziz Ansari, and Keanu Reeves? Not bad, boys.

41. Good Boy.

Besides the dog being an outstanding good boy throughout the whole thing, it's a little forgettable.

40. Friendship

My first real dive into a project involving Tim Robinson. Bizarre genre of comedy, but it at least makes me even more curious about other shows and films involving him. Like I Think You Should Leave

39. Until Dawn.

Nowhere near as good as the game, not even as accurate to the game, but honestly a fun watch still.

38. Casper

The friendly ghost movie from the 90s is still cute. That's all, though.

37. The Conjuring: Last Rites

Not quite as good as the first two in the series, but more enjoyable than the third.

36. Highest 2 Lowest.

Spike Lee's latest film, starring Denzel Washington, has some notable performances, but it's a much weaker project overall compared to the director's other works.

35. Musica

An interesting dive into Brazilian culture as a young man navigates life in New Jersey. Visually compelling and a cute romantic comedy.

34. The Witcher: Sirens of The Deep

Better than some of the last seasons of the show.

33. I Know What You Did Last Summer

Didn't get the chance to watch the 2025 version of the film, but the original horror was another fun watch for the first time ever.

32. Captain America: Brave New World.

Genuinely did like it, but it's easily the weakest out of all the major superhero films that came out this year.

31. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Black Pearl.

Watched on a whim, and it's still as entertaining as I found it as a child. It's good for the vibes.

30. Freaky Friday.

Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis were so damn charming in the original.

29. Kung Pow: Enter the Fist.

Wonderful movie to watch while high or with friends or both. Not every joke lands, but it's just silly enough to remain entertaining.

28. Straw.

Heartbreaking film with a twist I didn't see coming. Not bad.

27. Novocaine

I hope to see Jack Quaid in more entertaining films like this once The Boys is done.

26. The Running Man (2025)

Still haven't seen the original as of this writing, but it makes me really want to check it out.

25. This Is Spinal Tap.

Rest in Peace, Rob and Michele Reiner.

24. Mickey 17.

Pretty good year for films with characters that have one actor in two different roles.

23. The Craft

Love these spooky witch girls. Damn shame how ass the second film is.

22. 28 Days Later

Definitely one of the most interesting zombie films in its genre.

21. Return of The Living Dead

But this zombie film from 1985 is peak camp.

20. Donnie Darko

I appreciate it more now these days than when I first tried watching it as a teenager.

19. Phineas & Ferb: Candace Against the Universe.

Not quite as good as their OTHER movie, but entertaining on its own merit.

18. Predator: Killer of Killers

It's so euphoric to be in an age of good Predator films.

17. Phineas & Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension

The multiverse as a concept is overplayed these days. But in 2011, the concept was way more fascinating.

16. K-Pop Demon Hunters

Love the animation, it made me laugh quite often, and you cannot deny how catchy some of these songs are.

15. Fantastic Four: The First Steps.

It's not a high bar to begin with, but this IS the best FF movie. And for good reason.

14. The Naked Gun (2025)

I love this genre of comedy. I need more films that harken to the old Naked Gun films, or even like the Hot Shots movies.

13. Predator: Badlands

I need more good Predator movies NOW!!!

12. Klaus

The 2019 animated Netflix film is great. I wish I had watched it sooner because it is probably now in my yearly rotation around the holidays.

11. Sinners

For a lot of people, this is their movie of the year. ALSO for a damn good reason. If it sweeps at the Oscars, it's deserved. Don't know if it will, but I wouldn't be upset if it did.

10. Final Destination: Bloodlines

Very quickly cemented itself as my favorite of the entire franchise. I love over-the-top silliness.

9. The Martian

It's pretty easy to root for Matt Damon in this.

8. Superman (2025)

Love the performances, stellar action, and incredibly enthralling cast. Sensational DC film right here.

7. Thunderbolts*

Everything I said about Superman goes double for this one. Plus I love the 'you are not alone' message behind it all.

6. Akira

Like Donnie Darko, this film is another I appreciate more as a young adult than as a teenager. Legendary animated from 1988, and more than 30+ years later, it's a visual treat.

5. Airplane!

The only way I'd want to see someone try to remake this is if you get Seth MacFarlane and the team behind the new Naked Gun to work on it. Again, I love these spoof movies.

4. 28 Years Later

penis

3. Coraline

Scared the hell out of me as a kid. I mean, it's still kinda scary for a kid's film with some crazy imagery, but it's also awesome, and we SHOULD show it to more kids.

2. Weapons

The kids all chasing down Aunt Gladys is top ten scenes of the year alone.

Frankenstein this film is spectacular. Guillermo Del Toro's adaptation kept me hooked. Victor's perspective is compelling, but I locked tf in for The Monster's side of the story.

[vancruejovi]

[legion1227]

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Final Scene is Perfect.

As someone who likes to watch award shows like the Emmys every year, there are always several dramas and sitcoms I want to take note of and add to a never-ending watchlist of wondrous art in the visual media that I am desperate to view before I shuffle off this mortal coil. There will always be more shows and films to watch and enjoy before the day is done. And the Emmys always show me what phenomenal art there is out there that I have yet to discover. From 2017 to 2024, I saw a show titled 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' that was constantly nominated in nearly all feasible comedy-related categories. It was added to my list. I noted that it was a highly acclaimed comedy, critics praised it, and Alex Borstein was apparently a sublime supporting actress in the show. (Borstein has always been noted to me because I have always loved her voice work as Lois Griffin in Family Guy, even if the show has tanked in quality for a long time now.)

With so many quality shows out there, it's hard to juggle them all. I developed a system to balance them that only works in my head, and it has been tweaked numerous times over the years. Back in 2024, I decided it was time to check out Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. And only recently did I finish it. If you're reading this and somehow unfamiliar with its premise or anything about it, I'll summarize. Set in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the series follows Miriam "Midge" Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), a former housewife in New York, as she pursues a career in stand-up comedy after her marriage ends. Through trials and tribulations, peaks and valleys, the first four seasons showcase her struggle, and as she tries to make her name known with the help of her manager, Suzie Myerson (Alex Borstein). The last season (spoilers if you haven't seen) differs from the earlier seasons by flash-forwarding throughout the season and showing her success in the 70's, 80's, 90's, and as late as 2005. While I'm not particularly fond of how the flash forwards were handled, hamfisting some of them at the beginning of episodes before traveling back to the 60s, the very last one in the final episode, in its last scene, I find so beautiful.

The one relationship that stands tall throughout the entire show is Midge's friendship with Suzie. She always loved her ex-husband Joel, but they never could last. Other men, like fellow stand-up comic Lenny Bruce or whatever the name of that doctor Zachary Levi's character played, had stellar chemistry with her, but couldn't last either. Her parents were a driving force in the series, and her children were always a concern, but this wasn't about them either. Despite the ups and downs, the highs and lows, how much a pain in the ass they both could be to each other, the difficulties, despite falling out with each other for a few years, at the end of the day, her longest-lasting healthy relationship was with her best friend and manager. In the final scene, set in 2005, Midge and Suzie are talking over the phone, living lavishly in their old age, in different parts of the world, but they still make time for each other, even if their success has led them to different areas or places in life. As they both sit on their respective couches and watch Jeopardy at the same time, watching the two of them joke and laugh with each other is perfection. A show all about the rise of a star in comedy, ending with the star of the show laughing her ass off with her best friend, is an inspired choice. How you end a show, a final line or shot, is tantamount, as it will leave an impact on your viewers for the rest of their lives. To have Midge in bliss with her best friend Susie, the most consistent and longest-lasting relationship of her life, sharing a laugh, which their whole careers were based on, is sensational.

It moved me enough to write about it. The final scene of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is perfect for the show, and I'd recommend anyone to watch the show if they haven't already.

[legion1227]

Some Thoughts on The Bear

I've been sitting with it for a moment and i'm sick and tired of The Bear being nominated in the comedy category.

Few weeks back, the Emmy's aired. If you look back at the oadt few Emmy's in a row, The Bear and it's cast has cleaned up in the comedy category. Best Comedy, best lead actor, best supporting actress, etc. While I think the show is great and the performances are stellar, it's somewhat infuriating to see them beat other deserving actors, actresses, or shows, like, for an example, the cast of Only Murders In The Building.

The Bear might be a better show in terms of it's characters, directing, writing, (maybe, arguably). But if there's one thing The Bear absolutely does not have over a show like Only Murders or any other show in the category, probably, is the comedy factor.

The only thing funny about The Bear is the guy who plays Fak and his brother. They're funny but not funnier than the guys in Only Murders! I can't recall a single joke off the top of my head from The Bear. It's nowhere near funny enough to be considered a comedy.

And this year, they lost the usual awards to a show called The Studio! While I haven't seen it yet as of this writing, I have little doubt that the Seth Rogen led show is probably infinitely funnier than The Bear.

For God's sake, can FX and Christopher Storer and anyone else just fucking nut up and put the show in the drama category? And while we're also at it, can we make the show more like it's first two seasons!? I enjoyed seasons 3-4 but not as much as 1-2! It's lacking in this urgency and chaos that the first two seasons complied so damn well.

[legion1227]

Chance The Rapper: A Comeback!

A return to form for the Chicago-based rapper.

In the early 2010s, Chance the Rapper started his career humbly. After being suspended in high school for ten days for possession of marijuana, he recorded his first-ever mixtape in the span of eight months and released it, titling it 10 Day. The mixtape was enough to put Chance on Complex Magazine's "10 New Chicago Rappers to Watch Out For." If I were to recommend a single song from his first mixtape to any listener, it would be my personal favorite, "14,400 Minutes," as it is also the first song off the mixtape and a perfect, fun introduction to Chance at the beginning of his career.

In 2013, Chance dropped his second mixtape, Acid Rap, which received even more acclaim and adoration from fans and critics alike than 10 Day. As he tackled themes of nostalgia, his love for Chicago, an adoration for drugs, and a focus on his struggling upbringing, Chance's sophomore project compelled many who listened. Packed with features like Action Bronson, Ab-Soul, Childish Gambino, Vic Mensa, and Twista, to name a few, it allowed even more hip-hop fans to take notice of the kid. To see his promise. If I had to recommend a song here for anyone to listen to, while there are many options, I have to go with my favorite song, "Favorite Song" featuring Childish Gambino. Braggodocious songs in the genre are always the most intoxicating to me, and as Donald Glover and Chance merely go for it, I have to put it at the top of my list.

Then, in 2016, Chance released his third mixtape, The Coloring Book. Different from his other mixtapes, Chance mixed soulful, gospel choir music into this project, sounding different from his previous mixtapes to make something unique. The result? It was met with widespread acclaim from critics, won him a Grammy and a BET hip-hop award, respectively, for best albums. If I had to recommend another song here, I absolutely love "Same Drugs." The song details a saddening experience where he and a childhood flame realize they no longer share the same interests and experiences, making him yearn for nostalgic memories. By this point, Chance was no longer on the rise but had established himself as a competent, talented, stellar musician with an ear for music. As he said so himself on Kanye West's track "Ultralight Beam," /I met Kanye West, I'm never going to fail./

When it came time for Chance to release his debut album, all eyes were on him. The anticipation was palpable. After three well-received mixtapes, awards won, and making a splash on hip-hop entirely, he released The Big Day in the summer of 2019.

And to put it bluntly, that shit was ass. At least, that's what most people who listened to it said on social media.

The Big Day was nothing like 10 Day or Acid Rap, and adopted some elements of the gospel in The Coloring Book, packed with features like John Legend and Nicki Minaj, to name a few, and went with a more poppy sound overall for the album. And it was worse for it. Personally, I've always found The Big Day to be a disappointing and ultimately poor album, but not as terrible as some others have boasted over the years. A track like 'We Go High' still gets play for me after all these years, and some parts of '5 Year Plan' that do not involve Randy Newman's grating voice still endear me. I enjoy a few sections of the album, and do not find it so egregiously horrible, but it still is, without a doubt, a bad album. An Awful debut album for someone clearly talented.

The worrying part is that usually, Chance took 2-3 years before dropping another project, but after The Big Day, the stink settled for six long years until last month. People worried that Chance was washed. That he could never recover or bounce back. And as more time passed, the stink wafted over the legacy he had cultivated over the years. Then, on August 15th, 2025, Chance dropped Star Line. THIS should have been his debut. THIS is a return to form for Chance. It's fun, it's earnest, it references how his last album was a flop and how he has learned from it, it's filled with features from Vic Mensa, Jay Electronica, and Joey Badass, among others, who trade bars with Chance, it's thought-provoking, gleefully bragadocious, high in energy, and blends elements of what worked from his mixtapes to provide an excellent comeback. If I were to recommend a song here? I'd pick almost any of them. As a Chance fan, it meant a lot to me for his next project to be a success.

I'm delighted he could achieve this and hope for nothing less for the guy. 4/5 for Star Line.

[legion1227]

Seinfeld: Some thoughts about the show about nothing.

I recently finished the show about nothing for the first time ever. Here are my thoughts.

In case you're somehow unaware of this cultural landmark of a show, Seinfeld was an NBC sitcom that aired for 9 seasons from 1989 to 1998. During its run, the show earned numerous accolades for its performances as well as its writing. It's always fascinated me how the creators, Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, billed the show as a show about nothing. When in reality, the show followed four friends navigating awkward situations or wacky hijinks in New York on an episode-to-episode basis. In a plot sense, it's pretty similar to Friends, minus the constant will-they-won't-they dynamic. But as much as I like and enjoy Friends, Seinfeld hits different.

Seinfeld starts off simply enough. Its first season is the most tame in comparison to what follows. Along with being the shortest at five episodes, Seinfeld's first season falls into a familiar pitfall that most multi-season spanning shows run into, where they are trying to find their footing. The iconic character Kramer was initially named Kessler in the first episode, due to concerns over using the name Kramer since his character was based on a former stand-up comedian, Kenny Kramer. The character dynamics of the cast aren't hitting as they would in the following seasons, what with Kramer floating around in the stories, not feeling well integrated, and the jokes being moderately funny, contributing to a season that's passable but easily its weakest. If anything, it makes for fine background noise to have on while you do something else.

Come season 2, and it's a step up from before! In this season, the jokes start to flow better, the chemistry between our four oddballs strengthens, and this season introduces iconic, lovable recurring characters like Jerry's Uncle Leo and Newman (at least audibly because we don't SEE him until season 3). It also features some of its strongest episodes, and arguably one of the best in its entire run in "The Chinese Restaurant," which actually does make its strongest case about being a show about nothing, since they're able to make a bottle episode about waiting to be seated at a restaurant funny. For seventeen episodes, this show truly starts to show why people latched onto these characters and why it remains talked about for so long. The second season is quite good.

But the third season marked a turning point for the show as a whole. The writers' experiences started contributing to some of the funniest episodes of the whole show. George started to cement himself as my favorite character of the four with his bizarre, neurotic tendencies, while Kramer and Elaine respectively became more out-there and quirky. They start to blend and weave storylines together better, and in my opinion, they proceed to establish a dominant run that demonstrates why it worked so well from this third season all the way to its ninth season. Peak Seinfeld dominating the rest of the 90s with catchphrases ("Serenity now!" "yada yada yada." "Master of my domain." No Soup for you!"), a fun supporting cast, memorable one-off characters…and then we get to the finale.

For the remaining seven seasons, while some episodes weren't as funny as others, there was still simply enough to latch onto and enjoy for laughs and vibes for me across all these episodes, even in the clip shows or that one episode where the A and B stories are told in reverse. But then we get to the finale and I'm…

hm.

When the finale was first released in 1998, it sparked controversy and ire from fans and critics alike. All I knew about it was that it ended with Jerry and the rest of them in jail for being bad citizens. I knew very little going into the episode. But after finishing the episode, I'm understanding where everyone else is coming from. It's easily the most unfunny episode of the entire run. Jerry and the gang have always been sardonic and mean-spirited at times, but they feel out of character for most of this episode. Kramer has always been ungraceful in his movements, but his spending so much time in the episode trying to get water out of his ear and hopping on one leg is unfunny and annoying. Characters from their past show up one last time, and it turns almost into a clip show of sorts, and I don't like that either. It's the last time we're going to see Jerry and the gang, so I'd prefer to spend as much time with them as possible. Also, the episode before this was literally already a clip show. So why would you show more clips? Here's what I'll say I like about the episode. I liked that Elaine almost confessed her feelings to Jerry just as the plane was starting to crash. I'm fine that Elaine and Jerry never got together in the show, but I'm a sucker for romantic gestures, and the near-confession made me smile, even if she tried to downplay it later in the episode. There are also two moments that audibly made me laugh out of the whole episode: Elaine's on-again-off-again boyfriend Puddy's dry response of "okay" when Elaine tells him not to wait for him, and Jerry's prison routine during the credits. Those few moments are not enough for me to rewatch that episode again, however, and it amazes me how Larry David continues to stand by the finale.

Despite the disappointing finale, I can say that it doesn't affect the legacy of the sitcom at all. It's just a shame that THAT's how the characters take their final bow. I'm glad I got to watch every episode of the show, and I'll absolutely rewatch it in the future. And if somehow you haven't seen episodes of the show, I'd recommend checking out some of the first two seasons. See if its unique humor and quirky characters really resonate with you.

Is it really one of the greatest sitcoms ever? Honestly? I'm uncertain if I'd say it's the best, but I can understand why others would say so. It's absolutely up there and deserves to be a part of the conversation, regardless. Great show. 4/5.

[legion1227]

BondBridge Promotion

A little aside from my usual posting of reviews to recommend and and all of you to check out Bondbridge! A new app that makes it easy to find and make new friends!